Character References: Esther
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Listen to the service here.
Listen to the sermon here.
Worship Leader: Marieke Meyer
Speaker: Lori Unger
Song Leader: Peter Voth
Pianist: Ed Heese
Ushers: Sherry and David Nelligan
Tech Team (In-Person / Online): Bob Loewen/ Jonah Thiessen
Coffee: Bob and Carolyn Loewen
Activity Period: Laura Giesbrecht
Gathering Hymns
VT #545 Here I am, Lord
VT #411 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Welcome
This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. (Rumi)
Good morning and welcome to Toronto United \Mennonite church, affectionately known as TUMC. We are a peace church in the Anabaptist tradition and we welcome everyone. People of all ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, faith backgrounds, physical capacities and gifts. The doubting and the sure, the committed and the searching, the young and the not so young. We aspire to be a faith community that brings people together to worship God and support one another, while following Christ’s example in working for peace and justice. Everyone is welcome here. – Rumi
Introductions
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the diversity of the First Peoples of this area and honour the stewardship of the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the Anish-in-aabe, the Iroquois-Hauden-o-sau-nee, and the Huron-Wendat. Today, Toronto is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and around the world and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work, to live, and to worship on this territory. Together may we be good stewards of the world that God has entrusted to us.
Announcements
Giving with Gratitude
TUMC is a church of giving- we give of our time, of our enthusiasms, our talents and our wisdom. We give of our money too. We don’t pass around an offering plate here- although there is a donation station in the lobby, but we do encourage you to consider how you can support the work we do with your finances. You can leave us cash or a cheque, or you can pay electronically by sending an etransfer to treasurer@tumc.ca If you ever wonder how we spend our money, we are very open about it and I know our treasurer Tobi Thiessen would welcome a conversation anytime.
Congregational Prayer Peter Haresnape
Hymn #716 God of Grace and God of Glory
Children’s Story Doreen Martens
Hymn #546 There is a Line of Women
Sermon
Hymn #44 We long to know her.
Benediction
And now as we end our time together, May you listen to your longing to be free.
May the frames of your belonging be generous enough for your dreams.
May you arise each day with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart.
May you find a harmony between your soul and your life.
May the sanctuary of your soul never become haunted.
May you know the eternal longing that lives at the heart of time.
May there be kindness in your gaze when you look within.
May you never place walls between the light and yourself.
May you allow the wild beauty of the invisible world to gather you, mind you, and embrace you in belonging. -John O’Donohue
Amen
Scripture
Esther 7: 1-10
1 When the king and Haman came in for the banquet with Queen Esther, 2 the king said to her, “This is the second day we’ve met for wine. What is your wish, Queen Esther? I’ll give it to you. And what do you want? I’ll do anything—even give you half the kingdom.”
3 Queen Esther answered, “If I please the king, and if the king wishes, give me my life—that’s my wish—and the lives of my people too. That’s my desire. 4 We have been sold—I and my people—to be wiped out, killed, and destroyed. If we simply had been sold as male and female slaves, I would have said nothing. But no enemy can compensate the king for this kind of damage.”
5 King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is this person, and where is he? Who would dare do such a thing?”
6 Esther replied, “A man who hates, an enemy—this wicked Haman!” Haman was overcome with terror in the presence of the king and queen. 7 Furious, the king got up and left the banquet for the palace garden. But Haman stood up to beg Queen Esther for his life. He saw clearly that the king’s mood meant a bad end for him.
8 The king returned from the palace garden to the banquet room just as Haman was kneeling on the couch where Esther was reclining. “Will you even molest the queen while I am in the house?” the king said. The words had barely left the king’s mouth before covering Haman’s face with dread.
9 Harbona, one of the eunuchs serving the king, said, “Sir, look! There’s the stake that Haman made for Mordecai, the man who spoke up and did something good for the king. It’s standing at Haman’s house—seventy-five feet high.”
“Impale him on it!” the king ordered. 10 So they impaled Haman on the very pole that he had set up for Mordecai, and the king’s anger went away.